Cold Planer Having Improved Mill Cutting Efficiency

ABSTRACT

A cold planer is disclosed. The cold planer may include a frame having a first end and a second end. Further, a counterweight may be placed between the first end and a second end, and this counterweight may be movable between a current position and a second position along a longitudinal axis of the cold planer. Furthermore, the cold planer may include a counterweight position sensor operatively connected to the counterweight and be configured to determine a current position of the counterweight and generate a counterweight position signal.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to cold planers and, morespecifically, relates to cold planers having improved mill cuttingefficiency.

BACKGROUND

Cold planers, sometimes called road mills or profilers, are poweredmachines that generally include a frame, a power source, a millpositioned below the frame that is rotationally engaged with the powersource and a conveyor system operatively engaged with the mill. The millmay further include a rotatable drum having numerous cutting toolsdisposed thereon. As power from the power source is transferred to themill, this power is further transferred to the rotatable drum, therebyspinning this rotatable drum about its axis. As the rotatable drumspins, its cutting tools engage hardened asphalt, concrete and othermaterials of existing roadways, bridges, parking lots and the like,thereby removing layers of these existing structures. The spinningaction of the cutting tools then transfer these removed layers to theconveyor system where they are transmitted to a separate powered machinefor removal from a work site.

The rotational engagement of the cutting tools with hardened asphalt,concrete and the like generates dust and particulate matter, in additionto heat in the cutting tools. Consequently, cold planers commonly employa milling fluid system that includes a milling fluid tank that holdsmilling fluid. This milling fluid is sent to the mill where it issprayed over the rotatable drum and its cutting tools, therebymitigating creation of dust and particulate matter, in addition toremoving heat from the cutting tools.

The cutting efficiency of the cold planer is improved when its center ofgravity is positioned over the mill and, more specifically, over theaxis of the rotatable drum. However, as consumable materials, such as,for example, the milling fluid from the milling fluid tank or fuel froma fuel tank, are used, the center of gravity may shift away from thispreferred position. This shift leads to decreased mill cuttingefficiency, which in turn, leads to increased project lengths andincreased fuel usage. Accordingly, cold planer designers are continuallyseeking ways to maintain mill cutting efficiency in response to the useof consumable materials.

One attempt to adjust the efficiency of a powered machine is disclosedin Chinese Patent No. 101392491 (the 491 patent). The '491 patent isdirected to a paving machine having a screed that is extendible betweena position close to the tail of the machine and a position further awayfrom the tail of the machine. As the screed is extended from theposition close to the tail of the machine to the position further awayfrom the tail of the machine, the machine's center of gravity shiftsrearward and the thickness of the asphalt layer it may lay downdecreases. This shift therefore necessitates multiple passes of themachine to build a road having appropriate thickness when the screed isextended to the position further away from the tail of the machine,thereby decreasing machine efficiency. In order to solve this issue, the'491 patent describes a counterweight installed on the machine that ismovable in response to the amount of screed extension. Consequently,when the screed is extended the counterweight may be moved in adirection opposite the tail end of the machine, thereby maintaining theappropriate distance between the screed and the unpaved underlayment.

While arguably effective for its specific purpose, the '491 patent isrelated to movement of a screed of a paving machine, and in no wayrelated to a cold planer. Consequently, the '491 patent in no waydescribes, or alludes to, controlling a cold planer's mill cuttingefficiency. Furthermore, since the '491 patent is related to movement ofa screed, it in no way describes, or alludes to, controlling a coldplaner's mill cutting efficiency in response to the use of consumablefluids. Accordingly, the system to control the efficiency of the pavingmachine described in the '491 patent would fail to meet the needs of thecold planer described herein.

The present disclosure is directed to overcoming one or more problemsset forth above and/or other problems associated with the prior art.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a coldplaner is disclosed. The cold planer may include a frame having a firstend and a second end. Further, a counterweight may be placed between thefirst end and a second end, and this counterweight may be movablebetween a current position and a second position along a longitudinalaxis of the cold planer. Furthermore, the cold planer may include acounterweight position sensor operatively connected to the counterweightthat is configured to determine a current position of the counterweightand generate a counterweight position signal.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, asystem for improving a mill cutting efficiency of a cold planer isdisclosed. The system may include a counterweight located between afirst end and a second end of a frame and be movable between a currentposition and a second position along a longitudinal axis of the coldplaner. Further, this system may include a counterweight position sensoroperatively connected to the counterweight and configured to determine acounterweight position signal. Moreover, this system may include amilling fluid tank sensor operatively connected to a milling fluid tankand configured to generate a milling fluid tank level signal. Finally,this system may include an actuator operatively coupled to thecounterweight that is configured to move the counterweight.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, amethod for improving mill cutting efficiency of a cold planer isdisclosed. The method may include the step of sensing a counterweightposition. Further, this method may include the step of sensing a fluidtank level. Additionally, this method may include the step oftransmitting a counterweight position signal and a fluid tank levelsignal

These and other aspects and features of the present disclosure will bemore readily understood when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is a side view of an exemplary cold planer constructed inaccordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a side, cut-away view of an exemplary mill that may be used inconjunction with the cold planer of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary cold planer having a counterweightsystem that may be used in conjunction with the mill of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary control system thatmay be used in conjunction with the counterweight system of FIG. 3 togenerate a cold planer having improved mill cutting efficiency.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of another exemplary control systemthat may be used in conjunction with the counterweight system of FIG. 3to generate a cold planer having improved mill cutting efficiency.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating exemplary steps of a method forimproving mill cutting efficiency of a cold planer manufactured inaccordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring now to the drawings, and with specific reference to FIG. 1, acold planer is shown and generally referred to by reference numeral 10.As seen there, cold planer 10 may include a frame 12, and frame 12 mayhave a first end 14 and a second end 16. Such cold planer 10 may furtherinclude a power source 18 operatively connected to the frame 12 and suchpower source 18 may be located between the first end 14 and the secondend 16 of cold planer 10. The power source 18 may be provided in anynumber of different forms including, but not limited to, Otto and Dieselcycle internal combustion engines, electric motors, hybrid engines andthe like.

Cold planer 10 may further include a fuel tank 20 operatively engagedwith frame 12 that may be located between first end 14 and second end16. Fuel tank 20 may contain fuel 22 for the power source 18.Accordingly, if power source 18 is an Otto cycle engine, fuel tank 20may hold gasoline as fuel 22. Alternatively, if power source 18 is aDiesel cycle engine, fuel tank 20 may hold diesel as fuel 22.

Cold planer 10 may also include a milling fluid tank 24 operativelyengaged with frame 12 and may be located between the first end 14 andsecond end 16 of frame 12. The milling fluid tank 24 may hold a millingfluid 26. While not intending to be limiting, milling fluid 26 may bewater, propylene glycol, mixtures of water and propylene glycol and thelike. In other instances, milling fluid 26 may additionally includesurface-tension modification agents such as anionic surfactants,cationic surfactants or non-ionic surfactants. In other instances,milling fluid 26 may include gelling agents.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-2, cold planer 10 may further include a mill 28that is operatively connected to, and positioned below, frame 12.Moreover, mill 28 may be rotationally engaged with power source 18 andfurther include a rotatable drum 30 that may include cutting tools 32disposed thereon. As power from the power source 18 is transferred tothe mill 28, this power may further be transferred to the rotatable drum30, thereby causing the rotatable drum 30 to spin about a drum axis 34.As the rotatable drum 30 spins about its drum axis 34, the cutting tools32 may engage hardened materials 36, such as, for example, asphalt andconcrete, of existing roadways, bridges, parking lots and the like.Moreover, as the cutting tools 32 engage such hardened materials 36, thecutting tools 32 remove layers of these hardened materials 36. Thespinning action of the rotatable drum 30 and its cutting tools 32 thentransfers the hardened materials 36 to a conveyor system 38 where theytransmitted to a separate powered machine and removed from a work site.

The rotational engagement of the cutting tools 32 with hardenedmaterials 36 generates dust and particulate matter. Further, thisengagement generates heat in the cutting tools 32, thereby decreasingtheir service life. Accordingly, a cold planer 10 commonly introducesmilling fluid 26 from milling fluid tank 24 into mill 28 duringoperation. The introduction of milling fluid 26 into mill 28 mitigatesthe generation of excess dust and particulate matter and removes heatfrom the cutting tools 32. Both of which increases the service life ofcutting tools 32.

The mill cutting efficiency 40 of a cold planer is improved when thecold planer's 10 center of gravity 42 is positioned over mill 28 and,more specifically, over the drum axis 34. However, when consumablefluids, such as fuel 22 and milling fluid 26, are used, center ofgravity 42 may shift away from this preferred position. In turn, thisshift may lead to decreased mill cutting efficiency 40, leading toincreased project time lengths and fuel usage.

Accordingly, it will be appreciated that cold planer 10 designers arecontinually seeking ways to improve mill cutting efficiency 40 inresponse to the use of consumable materials, such as fuel 22 and millingfluid 26. Referring now to both FIGS. 1 and 3, a system for improvingmill cutting efficiency 40 of a cold planer 10 is depicted and generallyreferred to by reference numeral 44. As seen there, this system mayinclude a counterweight 46 located between the first end 14 and thesecond end 16 of frame 12. Moreover, counterweight 46 may be movablebetween a current position 48 and a second position 50 along alongitudinal axis 52 of cold planer 10. As fuel 22 from fuel tank 20, ormilling fluid 26 from milling fluid tank 24, is consumed, center ofgravity 42 may shift away from its preferred position over drum axis 34.Accordingly, in operation, the position of counterweight 46 may beshifted towards or away from drum axis 34, thereby shifting center ofgravity 42 towards this location and having the effect of increasingmill cutting efficiency 40.

While FIGS. 1 and 3 demonstrate counterweight 46 being located nearer tothe second end 16 of frame 12, than first end 14, it should beunderstood that counterweight 46 may be located anywhere between thefirst end 14 and the second end 16. Further, while these figures depictthe current position 48 closer to first end 14 of frame 12, than secondend 16, it should be understood that counterweight 46 may be moved backand forth along longitudinal axis 52. Therefore, current position 48 isonly a reference point, and counterweight 46 may just as easily movefrom being closer to second end 16 of frame 12 towards first end 14.

Turning now to FIG. 4, a first control system that may be used inconjunction with the system 44 for improving mill cutting efficiency 40of a cold planer 10 is depicted and generally referred to by referencenumeral 54. Such first control system 54 may include a counterweightposition sensor 56 that is operatively connected to the counterweight46, and this counterweight position sensor 56 may be configured todetermine the current position 48 of the counterweight and generate acounterweight position signal 58. Moreover, this counterweight positionsignal 58 may be indicative of a counterweight moment about the centerof gravity 42 of cold planer 10.

Next, this first control system 54 may include a milling fluid tanksensor 60 operatively connected to milling fluid tank 24. This millingfluid tank sensor 60 may be configured to generate a milling fluid tanklevel signal 62, and this milling fluid tank level signal 62 may beindicative of a milling fluid moment about the center of gravity 42 ofcold planer 10. Further, the first control system 54 may include a fueltank sensor 64 operatively connected to fuel tank 20 that is configuredto generate a fuel tank level signal 66. This fuel tank level signal 66may be indicative of a fuel moment about the center of gravity 42 ofcold planer 10.

Further, first control system 54 may include an operator interface 68.The operator interface 68 may be operatively connected to thecounterweight position sensor 56, the milling fluid tank sensor 60 andthe fuel tank sensor 64. Moreover, operator interface 68 may beconfigured to receive counterweight position signal 58, milling fluidtank level signal 62 and fuel tank level signal 66, and furtherconfigured to display current mill cutting efficiency 40 based on thecounterweight position signal 58, milling fluid tank level signal 62 andfuel tank level signal 66. Additionally, operator interface 68 may befurther configured to generate a counterweight movement signal 70. Forexample, operator interface 68 may include a switch, or other signalgenerating device adapted to be actuated by the operator.

Finally, this first control system 54 may also include an actuator 72.This actuator 72 may be configured to receive the counterweight movementsignal 70, and further configured to move the counterweight 46 betweenthe current position 48 and second position 50 in response to thecounterweight movement signal 70. Actuator 72 can take many forms, suchas, a hydraulic ram or a worm gear drive.

Referring now to FIG. 5, a second embodiment of a control system thatmay be used in conjunction with the system 44 for improving mill cuttingefficiency 40 of a cold planer 10 is depicted and generally referred toby reference numeral 74. This embodiment is similar to the first controlsystem 54, but rather than relying on the operator to monitor the millcutting efficiency 40, and actuate the actuator 72, it uses a processorto automatically do so. More specifically, a second control system 74may include a counterweight position sensor 56 that is operativelyconnected to the counterweight 46, and this counterweight positionsensor 56 may be configured to determine the current position 48 of thecounterweight and generate a counterweight position signal 58. Moreover,this counterweight position signal 58 may be indicative of acounterweight moment about the center of gravity 42 of cold planer 10.

Further, this second control system 74 may include a milling fluid tanksensor 60 operatively connected to milling fluid tank 24. This millingfluid tank sensor 60 may be configured to generate a milling fluid tanklevel signal 62, and this milling fluid tank level signal 62 may beindicative of a milling fluid moment about the center of gravity 42 ofcold planer 10. Further, the first control system 54 may include a fueltank sensor 64 operatively connected to fuel tank 20 that is configuredto generate a fuel tank level signal 66. This fuel tank level signal 66may be indicative of a fuel moment about the center of gravity 42 ofcold planer 10.

Next, second control system 74 may include a controller 76 that may beimplemented to control the movement of the counterweight 46 betweencurrent position 48 and second position 50. The controller 76 mayinclude a microprocessor 78 for executing specified programs thatcontrol and monitor various functions associated with cold planer 10,including movement of counterweight 46 between current position 48 andsecond position 50, in addition to other functions outside the scope ofthe current disclosure. The microprocessor 78 includes a memory 80, suchas read only memory (ROM) 82, for storing a program or programs, and arandom access memory (RAM) 84 which serves as a working area for use inexecuting the programs stored in memory 80. Although microprocessor 78is shown, it is also possible and contemplated to use other electroniccomponents such as a microcontroller, an ASIC (application specificintegrated circuit) chip or any other integrated circuit device.

Controller 76 may be operatively connected to the counterweight positionsensor 56, the milling fluid tank sensor 60 and the fuel tank sensor 64.Furthermore, controller 76 may be configured to receive counterweightposition signal 58, milling fluid tank level signal 62 and fuel tanklevel signal 66 and generate a mill cutting efficiency signal 86 andsend this mill cutting efficiency signal to the operator interface 68that is operatively connected to controller 76, where the operatorinterface 68 may configured to display the mill cutting efficiencysignal 86. Furthermore, controller 76 may utilize mill cuttingefficiency signal 86 to automatically determine whether movement ofcounterweight 46 is necessary in order to shift center of gravity 42 ofcold planer 10 towards drum axis 34, and in doing so may generate acounterweight movement signal 70 to automatically do so.

Finally, this second control system 74 may also include an actuator 72.This actuator 72 may be configured to receive the counterweight movementsignal 70, and further configured to move the counterweight 46 betweenthe current position 48 and second position 50 in response to thecounterweight movement signal 70. Like the first control system 54described before, actuator 72 can take many forms, such as, a hydraulicram or a worm gear drive.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

In operation, mill cutting efficiency 40 of cold planer 10 is improvedwhen center of gravity 42 is positioned over the mill 28 and, morespecifically, over drum axis 34. However, as consumable materials, suchas, for example, milling fluid 26 from milling fluid tank 24 or fuel 22from fuel tank 20, are used, center of gravity 42 may shift away fromthis preferred position. This shift may lead to a decrease in millcutting efficiency 40, which in turn, leads to increased project lengthsand increased fuel usage. Accordingly, the current application alsodiscloses novel and non-obvious methods directed to improve mill cuttingefficiency 40.

Referring now to FIG. 6, an exemplary flowchart is shown depictingsample steps which may be followed to improve cold planer 10 millcutting efficiency 40. Step 88 of the method may include sensing acounterweight 46 position. Such counterweight 46 position may be withsensed with counterweight position sensor 56 that is operativelyconnected to counterweight 46, and counterweight position sensor 56 maygenerate a counterweight position signal 58.

Step 90 of the method may include sensing a fluid tank level. Since bothmilling fluid 26 and fuel 22 may be consumed during operation of coldplaner 10, both fuel tank level and milling fluid tank level may besensed. The milling fluid tank level may be sensed with milling fluidtank sensor 60 that is operatively connected to milling fuel tank 24,and milling fluid tank sensor 60 may generate a milling fluid tank levelsignal 62. Further, fuel tank level may be sensed with fuel tank sensor64, and fuel tank level signal 66 may be generated by fuel tank sensor64.

In one mode of operation, only milling fluid tank level may be sensed,while in another mode of operation, only fuel tank level may be sensed.Further, both milling fluid tank level and fuel tank level may be sensedsimultaneously. Consequently, the current disclosure identifies thatwhile many projects utilizing cold planer 10 need milling fluid 26, mostoperations utilizing cold planer 10 require fuel 22. Accordingly, it isenvisioned that the fuel tank level sensing portion of the currentdisclosure may be employed separately from the milling fluid tank levelsensing portion. Additionally, and because of the foregoing, it isenvisioned that fuel tank level portion of the current disclosure may beemployed on a cold planer 10 lacking a milling fluid tank 24, and itsattendant milling fluid 26.

Turning back to FIG. 6, step 92 of the method may further involvetransmitting counterweight position signal 58 and fluid tank levelsignal to operator interface 68 or controller 76. As should beunderstood from above, fluid tank level signal may include milling fluidtank level signal 62, fuel tank level signal 66, or both milling fluidtank level signal 62 and fuel tank level signal 66. Consequently, fueltank level signal transmitted will depend on whether the content of thecurrent disclosure is utilized on a cold planer 10 including millingfluid tank 24 and fuel tank 20, or only fuel tank 20. Moreover, fluidtank level signal transmitted will depend on whether the mode ofoperation only requires the milling fluid tank be sensed, only the fueltank level be sensed, or both the milling fluid tank level and fuel tanklevel be sensed.

Turning now to first control system 54, the operator interface 68 may beconfigured to receive counterweight position signal 58, milling fluidtank level signal 62 and fuel tank level signal 66. Moreover, operatorinterface 68 may be further configured to display current mill cuttingefficiency 40 based on counterweight position signal 58, milling fluidtank level signal 62 and fuel tank level signal 66. Accordingly, underfirst control system 54, cold planer 10 operator may receive millcutting efficiency 40 from operator interface 68 and determine whethercurrent position 48 of counterweight 46 is correct based on mill cuttingefficiency 40 displayed by operator interface 68. If cold planer 10operator determines current position 48 of counterweight 46 is correctbased on mill cutting efficiency 40 displayed by operator interface 68,then the method may maintain counterweight position at step 96, andsteps 88-96 may be repeated until center of gravity 42 shifts away frombeing positioned over drum axis 34.

When change is necessary, a switch, or other signal generating deviceadapted to be actuated by the operator, may be actuated and generate acounterweight movement signal 70 at step 98. At step 100, thecounterweight movement signal 70 may be transmitted to the operatorinterface 68 and is further transmitted to actuator 72 that isconfigured to receive counterweight movement signal 70, and isadditionally configured to move counterweight 46 between currentposition 48 and second position 50 in response to counterweight movementsignal 70. At step 102 actuator 72 may be actuated to move counterweight46 between current position 48 and second position 50, and steps 88-102may be repeated until center of gravity 42 is repositioned over drumaxis 34.

Turning now to second control system 74, controller 76 may include amicroprocessor 78 for executing specified programs that monitor andcontrol movement of counterweight 46 between current position 48 andsecond position 50. Further, microprocessor 78 may include memory 80,such as read only memory (ROM) 82, for storing a program or programs, tomonitor and control movement of counterweight 46 between currentposition 48 and second position 50, in addition to random access memory(RAM) 84 that may serve as a working area for use in executing theprogram or programs stored in memory 80 to control movement ofcounterweight 46.

Memory 80 may include data, such as in the form of a table, includinglocation of center of gravity 42 based on counterweight position signal58, milling fluid tank level signal 62 and fuel tank level signal 66.Microprocessor 78 may then compare the counterweight position signal 58,milling fluid tank level signal 62 and fuel tank level signal 66 to dataand determine whether counterweight position is correct based on fluidtank level at step 94. When microprocessor 78 determines currentposition 48 of counterweight 46 is correct then the method may maintaincounterweight position at step 96, and steps 88-96 may be repeated untilcenter of gravity 42 shifts away from being positioned over drum axis34.

When microprocessor 78 determines current position 48 of counterweight46 is incorrect based on fluid tank level at step 96, microprocessor 78may generate a counterweight movement signal 70 at step 98. At step 100,counterweight movement signal 70 may be transmitted to the operatorinterface 68 and may be further transmitted to actuator 72 that isconfigured to receive counterweight movement signal 70, and isadditionally configured to move counterweight 46 between currentposition 48 and second position 50 in response to counterweight movementsignal 70. At step 102 actuator 72 may be actuated to move counterweight46 between current position 48 and second position 50, and steps 88-102may be repeated until center of gravity 42 is repositioned over drumaxis 34.

The above description is meant to be representative only, and thusmodifications may be made to the embodiments described herein withoutdeparting from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, these modificationsfall within the scope of present disclosure and are intended to fallwithin the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A cold planer, comprising: a frame having a firstend and a second end; a counterweight placed between the first end andthe second end, and movable between a current position and a secondposition along a longitudinal axis of the cold planer; and acounterweight position sensor operatively connected to the counterweightand configured to determine the current position of the counterweightand generate a counterweight position signal.
 2. The cold planeraccording to claim 1, wherein the counterweight position signal isindicative of a counterweight moment about a center of gravity of thecold planer.
 3. The cold planer according to claim 2, further includinga milling fluid tank sensor operatively connected to a milling fluidtank and configured to generate a milling fluid tank level signal. 4.The cold planer according to claim 3, wherein the milling fluid tanklevel signal is indicative of a milling fluid moment about the center ofgravity of the cold planer.
 5. The cold planer according to claim 4,further including a fuel tank sensor operatively connected to a fueltank and configured to generate a fuel tank level signal.
 6. The coldplaner according to claim 5, wherein the fuel tank level signal isindicative of a fuel moment about the center of gravity of the coldplaner.
 7. The cold planer according to claim 6, further including anactuator operatively connected to the counterweight and configured tomove the counterweight between the current position and the secondposition.
 8. The cold planer according to claim 7, further including anoperator interface operatively connected to the counterweight positionsensor, the milling fluid tank sensor and the fuel tank sensor, andconfigured to display mill cutting efficiency based on the counterweightposition signal, the milling fluid tank level signal and the fuel tanklevel signal.
 9. The cold planer according to claim 8, wherein theoperator interface is further configured to generate a counterweightmovement signal, and the actuator is further configured to receive thecounterweight movement signal and move the counterweight between thecurrent position and the second position.
 10. The cold planer accordingto claim 7, further including a controller and an operator interface,the controller operatively connected to the counterweight positionsensor, the milling fluid tank sensor, the fuel tank sensor and theoperator interface, the controller configured to receive thecounterweight position signal, the milling fluid tank level signal andthe fuel tank level signal, generate a mill cutting efficiency signaland a counterweight movement signal, and the operator interfaceconfigured to receive and display the mill cutting efficiency signal.11. The cold planer according to claim 10, wherein the actuator isfurther configured to receive the counterweight movement signal and movethe counterweight between the current position and the second position.12. A system for improving a mill cutting efficiency of a cold planer,comprising: a counterweight located between a first end and a second endof a frame and movable between a current position and a second positionalong a longitudinal axis of the cold planer; a counterweight positionsensor operatively connected to the counterweight and configured todetermine a counterweight position signal; a milling fluid tank sensoroperatively connected to a milling fluid tank and configured to generatea milling fluid tank level signal; and an actuator operatively coupledto the counterweight and configured to move the counterweight.
 13. Thesystem according to claim 12, further including an operator interfaceoperatively connected to the counterweight position sensor and themilling fluid tank sensor, configured to receive the counterweightposition signal and the milling fluid tank level signal, configured todisplay the mill cutting efficiency based on the counterweight positionsignal and the milling fluid tank level signal, and configured togenerate a counterweight movement signal.
 14. The system according toclaim 13, wherein the actuator is configured to receive thecounterweight movement signal and move the counterweight between thecurrent position and the second position.
 15. The system according toclaim 12, further including a controller and an operator interface, thecontroller operatively connected to the operator interface, thecounterweight position sensor and the milling fluid tank sensor, thecontroller configured to receive the counterweight position signal andthe milling fluid tank level signal, and generate a mill cuttingefficiency signal and a counterweight movement signal, and the operatorinterface configured to receive and display the mill cutting efficiencysignal.
 16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the actuator isconfigured to receive the counterweight movement signal and move thecounterweight between the current position and the second position. 17.A method for improving a mill cutting efficiency of a cold planer,comprising: sensing a counterweight position; sensing a fluid tanklevel; and transmitting a counterweight position signal and a fluid tanklevel signal.
 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein fluid tanklevel signal is a milling fluid tank level signal, and further includingtransmitting the counterweight position signal and the milling fluidtank level signal to an operator interface, the operator interfaceconfigured to display the mill cutting efficiency based on thecounterweight position signal and the milling fluid tank level signaland sending a counterweight movement signal to an actuator, the actuatorconfigured to receive the counterweight movement signal and move acounterweight between a current position and a second position along alongitudinal axis of the cold planer.
 19. The method according to claim17, wherein fluid tank level signal is a milling fluid tank levelsignal, and further including sending the counterweight position signaland a milling fluid tank level signal to a controller, the controllerconfigured to receive the counterweight position signal and the millingfluid tank level signal, generate a mill cutting efficiency signal basedon the counterweight position signal and the milling fluid tank levelsignal and sending a counterweight movement signal to an actuator, theactuator configured to receive the counterweight movement signal andmove a counterweight between a current position and a second positionalong a longitudinal axis of the cold planer.
 20. The method accordingto claim 19, further including an operator interface, the operatorinterface configured to receive and display the mill cutting efficiency.